While Fatal Fury: First Contact's nostalgia factor and smart fighting mechanics mean that its appearance is welcome on the Switch, it sadly doesn't offer enough content to justify spending ages of time with. Still, it's perfect for a quick bout and shines in its presentation, meaning that there's still something to appreciate and admire here - even if not for overly long.
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is a fantastic collection and the definitive way to experience this title, particularly on the new consoles where it runs smoother (and is far gorier) than ever. Even on older hardware it still shines. While day one players who have already accrued the majority of the included content will have less incentive to splash the cash on the Ultimate edition, it stands as an impressive catalogue to the achievements of NetherRealm over the past year and a half. If you haven't played it yet, now is the best time to dive in. If you have, here above are all your reasons to dial back into the experience.
The Kombat Pack 2 introduces Rambo, Mileena and Rain in the gory fashion typical of the Mortal Kombat brand. They all bring something unique to the table in their play style and are so passionately designed that it's impossible to ignore the thought and care that went into bringing them to life. As fun as they are to play, though, there's scope for improvement. The ever-shifting meta has been a joy to follow over the course of this title's lifespan, so they'll no doubt become further ingrained and balanced imminently. Regardless, this latest batch of fighters proves that Mortal Kombat 11 is, for all intents and purposes, alive and kicking. And punching, grabbing, throwing, decimating, devouring… You get the idea.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the most invigorating, wholesome and downright fun entry in the series since Yakuza 0. The turn-based combat, while slightly rough around the edges, manages to impress. The new protagonist Ichiban is a delightful addition to the lore. The only reason Yakuza fans won't adore Like a Dragon is if they despise turn-based combat. Even then, it's well worth giving a shot for the beautifully written story and fresh take on the Yakuza formula. Ichiban Kasuga is the hero this world needs right now.
While West of Dead makes only a fleeting pass at innovation, it is still enjoyable for a time and does a great job of nailing a sense of personality that will resonate with fans of the good ol' Western. It's only avid rogue-like players, though, that will find much here to keep themselves invested. The repetition in the core gameplay quickly saps it of its charm, in turn requiring a concerted effort to see this title through to the bitter end.
FIFA 21 provides enough new content and changes to set itself apart from FIFA 20 but ultimately this feels like an entry that plays it safe. This is totally understandable; we are on the cusp of a new generation of consoles that will allow EA to take this series to the next level. Truly, it needs exactly that - the graphics and presentation are in dire need of an overhaul. Nevertheless, the bolstered Career Mode and gameplay balances contribute to this being a decent swan song for the current generation of football simulators.
Clearly made by gamers with a strong affection for the 2D RPGs of old, Vampire's Fall: Origins surpasses the standard of typical mobile games and delivers a solid experience that manages to stand on its own two feet. For gamers who want a value-for-money RPG and who can abide the lack of bells and whistles, look no further than this bargain bloodletter.
EA Sports UFC 4 is a testament to the power an experience can have when it is wholly aware of its own identity. The gameplay is solid, online modes are good, and the career mode is more of the comfortable same that it was in UFC 3, albeit with a great tutorial mode to kick things off. UFC 4 is what a sport sim should be: simple enough on its surface to be fun right off the bat, but deep enough to reward those who practice long enough to become skilled. Oh, and it is very UFC, in case you were wondering. That's always fun.
Carrion embraces its identity as a "reverse-horror" experience, offering some viscerally violent action that is not for the faint of heart. Presentation here is top-notch: this is a polished title that Phobia Game Studio has taken a lot of care in crafting. Sadly, it stumbles in its core gameplay. The combat is poorly balanced and navigation can be a frustrating chore, but when Carrion does transcend these trappings, it does so with a sadistic glee that makes it unmistakable amongst its peers.
One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows is unfortunately not the hero this city deserves… or needs. While it does a good job of capturing the aesthetic and charm of the One Punch Man universe via its cast of recognisable characters and suitably ludicrous character customisation, it doesn't quite hold its own as a video game. Instead, it stumbles in its presentation, content and, crucially, it's combat. With more of a focused vision on what it wanted to be it might have been able to set itself apart, but this is sadly not the case here.
The Outer Worlds's appearance on the Nintendo Switch is welcome due to the fact that it was one of 2019's best titles. However, while still fun to play, it doesn't leverage the Switch's hardware effectively and is subsequently unpleasant to look at. This has a big impact given that the game's charm on other home consoles and PC is due in large part to its visuals. For this reason it's difficult to celebrate it until it receives a substantial performance patch.
While not revolutionary by any stretch, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath breathes new life into the experience in smart and welcome ways. With the exception of the average Robocop, the new characters are unique and brimming with potential, and the story content is a short but sweet trip through the world of Mortal Kombat post-MK11 - hefty price-tag aside.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition's appearance on the Switch has been a long time coming, but it couldn't have come at a better moment. It's the sort of immersive, feel-good experience that gels well with a modern quarantined life. It begs to be lost in, and boasts a phenomenal story, memorable characters, and a beautiful world to explore. Not even the periodically clunky combat can get in the way of that.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a welcome addition to the Switch's ever-expanding repertoire, and a great adventure set in the Star Wars universe. Its seldom dull thanks to its enjoyable lightsaber combat, even if it's not terrific by modern standards. Fans of Star Wars and those looking for an action game with good variety will enjoy this. Aspyr has done a great job with the port, further cementing their reputation as one of the best developers for bringing fan favourite titles to Nintendo's flagship system.
Technical foibles aside, Darksiders Genesis provides yet another fresh take on everyone's favourite Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The isometric viewpoint is an interesting new direction, and one that isn't quite justified by the familiar hack 'n' slash action, but this is nevertheless a fun and well-designed experience that stays true to its roots despite its diminished scale. Fans of Darksiders will surely find a lot to enjoy here.
It may not be a terrific port, but Thronebreaker is a wildly addictive and relentlessly entertaining RPG-lite. The version of Gwent herein is the most fully realised to date, taking the core mechanics of previous versions and refining them into a malleable card game with endless potential. A beautifully written story and compelling characters make this a must-play for fans of The Witcher.
Dusk Diver struggles to make a memorable impact due to its story and gameplay failings. This is not helped by its technical issues. Nevertheless, despite its blandness, there is some charisma beneath the surface thanks to a memorable supporting cast and a clear sense of passion in its world's conception. It's difficult to recommend it, but for those who do give it a go, there is a noteworthy personality here that keeps things ticking.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare refreshes the formula by rooting itself more firmly in realism and adopting a grittier approach to both combat and to its Campaign's story.
Valfaris is a near-perfect 2D action platformer with an excellent sense of style in every aspect. Its industrial sci-fi setting is like Doom on steroids, and its breakneck soundtrack does a great job of tying the whole experience together. While it is weakened somewhat by difficulty imbalances in some sections - particularly in later levels - it nevertheless stands apart in the tide of indie platformers by virtue of its rock-solid personality, beautiful world and graphics, and great mechanics.
Truberbrook's handcrafted backdrops are strikingly beautiful, and its delightful to see such craftmanship woven into a video game. When it comes to the rest of the experience, though, there's very little to sing praise about. As a point-and-click adventure, this fails woefully. As a story-driven mystery, it tediously chugs along without offering anything of substance. Die-hard point-and-click gamers might be able to find some signs of life, but for everyone else there's little here to admire beyond the handcrafted environments.